Abstract: We are witnessing a formation of the new institution of recognition, which can be referred to as the “official recognition of facts”. Such seemingly different political themes as annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, the “Skripal Case”, or the status of the Golan Heights have an important common parameter – each of them has become an object of recognition by at least one country. Examination of the causal links that conduce certain countries to issuing the acts of recognition of long-past events or territorial changes are of considerable scientific and practical interest. Recognition of facts by the state is of paramount importance, as it[WU1]  is documented and reflects stance on a specific event, fact, or occurrence. Recognition ensures legitimacy for further actions of the state and initiates a chain of related political and legal events, including sanctions. Over the recent years, recognition of facts by the countries has become more frequent, and virtually becomes a means of political manipulation. Classification of the facts and events that have most often been the subject of recognition allows determining the common trends in the procedure of recognition, as well as the factors that prompt the country to resort to such step. Thus, at times strange and illogical actions of the state associated with the official recognition or non-recognition of the fact acquire a specific political and legal meaning, and allow analyzing the new strategic vectors in intergovernmental relations.

Keywords: elections, Golan Heights, Crimea, international law, sanctions, genocide, interference, states, recognition, terrorist organisations

Abstract: This article analyzes the investment legislation of the Russian Federation and the United States. The subject of this research is the specific normative legal acts regulating direct foreign investments in the indicated countries, while the object is the relations emerging in the process of foreign investment activity.  The author provides the examples of various factors in the area of foreign investment for the purpose of their comparison and determination of specificity of their practical implementation. The reference to doctrinal sources allowed to clearer explain the author’s position of the topic. The scientific novelty and relevance of this work are substantiated by examination of investment activity, which greatly impacts the economy of modern countries. The author’s special contribution lies in studying the experience of U. S. legislation with regards to direct foreign investments. The main conclusion consists in the fact that both jurisdictions have a well-developed mechanism for regulating investment relations, as well as both countries feature a number of restrictions that can face a foreign investor. The need for improvement of Russian legislation is underlined. The acquired results can be used in legislative and expert activity, as well as in further theoretical-legal research.

Keywords: national regulation, investment law, US law, Russian law, investment activity, foreign investor, foreign investment, foreign direct investment, investment, legal regulation of investment

Abstract: This article analyses the multistakeholder model in the Internet governance, as well as its definition on the international level and within the doctrine. The goal consists in determining the importance and the role of participation of multiple stakeholders in the context of Internet governance, and its correlation to the interstate approach in international law. The multistakeholder model is predominantly examined as participation of the subjects of international law and private entities in Internet governance. The subject of the research is the provisions of the outcome documents of the World Summit on the Information Society, resolutions of the UN General Assembly and other bodies of the UN system, provisions of acts of other international organizations that are dedicated to development of public policy in the area of Internet governance, as well as doctrinal sources covering history of the question. The scientific novelty lies in determination of correlation of the participation of interested parties in Internet governance. It is noted that in the practice of Internet governance there are two clear approaches for implementation of this model: ran by states and international organizations, or one that is ran by private entities. The international legal acts reflect the former approach towards implementation of this model. In accordance with this approach, Internet governance activities consist in consultation of state with private entities, allowing private entities as observers, or creation of public-private partnerships aimed at solution of global issues. The leading role of the private sector is promoted by the United States and several other Western nations as an alternative to interstate multilateral approach, which contradicts the international legal acts, since the leading role in ICANN is delegated to private entities, rather than states.

Keywords: international intergovernmental organizations, multistakeholders, public-private partnership, Internet Governance models, soft law, address space, Internet Governance, information society, inter-State cooperation, cybersecurity

Abstract: The subject of this research is the norms of international legal acts, legislations of the EU member-states, decisions of foreign national courts, as well as decisions of the European Court on Human Rights and European Court of Justice. A hypothesis is advanced that within the framework of the European arrest warrant there are new trends associated namely with the desire to strengthen the system of protection of rights of the extradited individuals, which can negatively affect functionality of the procedure as a whole. Thus, a number of cases of the national courts (for example Artur Celmer case) and Court of the European Union (Pál Aranyosi and Robert Căldăraru case), as well as provisions of the constitutional courts lead to the fact that the principle of mutual recognition of court decision is used with caution. The article examines the case law of national courts of the EU member-states, as well as practice of the European Court of Justice and European arrest warrant. The author compared the decisions of the aforementioned courts for confirming the hypothesis that the protection of extradited individuals plays a significant role in the context of operation of the European arrest warrant. The intention to provide legal guarantees to individuals extradited in the context of the European arrest warrant, which loses its main influence; particularly the procedure is interrupted due to absence of guarantees of protection of rights in case of extradition, as well as raises doubt towards judicial systems and their decisions of some EU member-states brought forth by political actions of these countries. Moreover, protection of rights and guarantee of fair trial increases.

Keywords: Germany, Extradition, Brexit, Court of Justice, Mutual Trust, Human Rights, European Arrest Warrant, United Kingdom, The European Union, Fair Trial

Abstract: This article is dedicated to the problem of protection of environmental rights within the practice of the European Court of Human Rights in accordance with the Article 8 of the Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, ensuring the right to respect of private and family life. The author reviews the practice of protection of environmental rights not only with regards to pollution, but also other types of negative impact upon the environment, including potential risks. The research analyzes the criteria of protection of environmental rights and conditions for permissibility of government’s interference within the framework of implementation of the Article 8 of the Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. The author examines the practice of the European Court of Human Rights in the area of application of the Article 8 of the Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in relation to ensuring environmental rights. The author acknowledges the possibility of its application in terms of immediate impact upon private life, family of an individual who reached a certain minimal level. The conclusions are made on permissibility of restricting environmental rights with presence of relevant legislation, legitimate purpose, necessity in a democratic society, as well as government’s positive obligations with regards to taking appropriate measures towards their factual implementation.

Keywords: protection of environmental rights, environmental rights, protection, respect, family life, private life, human rights, protection criteria, arbitrary interference, positive obligation

Abstract: The subject of this article is the state sovereignty in the conditions of crisis of the modern system of international relations. The object is the social relations emerging as a result of realization of their sovereignty the states. Special attention is given to the historical-legal analysis of establishment of the term “state sovereignty” (from the works of Jean Bodin to the works modern Russian and foreign scholars), as well as the questions of the restriction of sovereignty, illustrated on the particular examples from international practice. The scientific novelty lies in the analysis of the current state and application of the concept of state sovereignty in the international law. The analysis of the questions pertinent to the restriction of sovereignty is conducted on the recent examples in the international practice (particularly Donetsk People's Republic and Lugansk People's Republic). An attempt is made to trace the evolution of representations on state sovereignty, as well as analyze the various theoretical-legal approaches towards the attributes of sovereignty. The conclusion is made that the observed erosion of the concept of state sovereignty can lead to destruction of the modern system of international relations and dilution of the concept of state. Globalization becomes one of the drivers of this process; within its framework, the sovereign state becomes “excessive”, substantiating the rapid return to the state “prior to Westphalia”.

Keywords: national sovereignty, limitation of sovereignty, internal sovereignty, external sovereignty, state sovereignty, statehood, sovereignty, popular sovereignty, UN, Westphalian system

Abstract: The subject of this article is the principle of uti possidetis, which stems from the Roman civil law and later transformed into the principle of international law. Special attention is given to the analysis of international legal assessment of the grounds for implementation of the aforementioned principle towards disintegration process of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The article provides a legal analysis of the crucial aspects of Soviet legislation, as well as multilateral treaties adopted by the former Soviet republics within the framework of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The main conclusion of this work lies in the statement that upon disintegration of the Soviet Union, the international legal principle of uti possidetis has been applied for determining the borders of the former Soviet republics, which allowed transforming the previous administrative boundaries into the international borders of the newly formed independent states.

Keywords: international boundaries, CIS, disintegration of states, USSR, principles of international law, self-determination of nations, uti possidetis, territorial disputes, inviolability of boundaries, state practice

Abstract: This article provides brief information on discussion of the modern issued of the criminal and medical law in Poland, taking into account the experience of other stated in regulation of responsibility of the physicians, trends of implementation of the norms of international, European, and foreign legislation into the Polish national legislation. The work covers the assessment of lawmaking decisions in the field of human rights, primarily protection of women’s right who undergone domestic or other type of violence, or faced the rejection in providing the medical aid and services. The author presents the data on peculiarities and achievements in the medical and criminal laws of Germany, United States, Switzerland, France, and other states, which could be used for the purpose of improving the Polish legislation in order for it to meet the European and international standards, as well as for combatting corruption and other negative phenomena. The article also highlights the position of Polish juridical science and practice with regards to human trafficking or hate crimes. Characteristic is given to the attitude of the Polish medical legal experts and human rights advocates towards the decision of the Constitutional Tribunal of Poland pertaining to the conscience clause, lawmaking initiatives, and separate legislative acts, which were submitted for consideration of the Sejm.

Keywords: Legal education, Law, Euthanasia, Medicine, Conscience clause, Crime, Right, Patient, Physician, Abortion